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Wartime honour for Belper veteran
It's not every day you get invited to a reception at the Russian Embassy to receive a medal, but Belper man Jack Harrison took it all in his stride.
The ceremony, at the end of April, was not the first occasion where the 85-year-old had received a commemorative medal from the Russians, after his involvement with the Russian Convoys in the Second World War led to a lifetime of gratitude from the country for Jack and his comrades.
The medal he was awarded this time, a keepsake to mark the 65th anniversary of the end of the war, has now added to his collection of commemorative medals, which spans 25 years.
Jack said: "I'm very proud to have been part of it. I'm pleased that I went but I wouldn't want to do it again if they asked me.
"It was talked of as the worst job in the war."
Jack, who was part of the Royal Navy, took part in ten trips from Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, to Murmansk, in Russia. His ship, the HMS Diadem, was one of several flanking Merchant Navy ships which were carrying supplies to Russia.
Sailors faced freezing temperatures, battering waves, and poor conditions for weeks on end during the trips, which were aimed at protecting the cargo ships from German submarine attacks.
Jack said: "We just saw it as our job, but the Russians saw it as us supporting their war; like we were on their side. I never thought of it like that, but they saw it that we were helping them.
"We've never received any medals from the British Government."
He said he didn't like to speak about his time with the convoys, but said his worst experience was seeing colleagues who had fallen overboard flailing in the water fighting for their lives.
Jack added: "We all had little red lights on our clothing, and if you fell in the water you just turned the light on so people could see you.
The rescue ships were at the back, we weren't allowed to stop for anyone."
By the time the rescue ships reached the men, they could have died in the freezing water.
Jack added: "There was no relief from it. Once we got to Murmansk there was nowhere to go for a pint or two. Trees don't even grow there."
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Weather for Belper
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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